Abstract A227: Antitumor activities of ASP3026 against EML4-ALK-dependent tumor models.

Abstract

Abstract EML4-ALK is an oncogenic fusion kinase, which was first identified in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and is regarded as an attractive therapeutic target for treating a subpopulation of NSCLC patients. Crizotinib, which is inhibitor for MET and ALK, was recently approved by FDA (26 August 2011) for patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that is anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive as detected by an FDA-approved test. We synthesized and screened chemical compounds utilizing an ALK kinase inhibition assay aimed at the EML4-ALK target for drug discovery, and found ASP3026, a novel and selective inhibitor for the ALK kinase. ASP3026 potently inhibited ALK kinase activity and was more selective than crizotinib in a Tyr-kinase panel. In an anchorage independent in vitro cell growth assay, ASP3026 inhibited the growth of NCI-H2228, a human NSCLC tumor cell line endogenously expressing EML4-ALK variant 3 and that of 3T3 cells expressing EML4-ALK variant 1, 2 and 3. The plasma and tumor concentrations of ASP3026 in mice xenografted with NCI-H2228 tumor were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Significant tumor penetration was observed. The antitumor activities were evaluated using mice bearing subcutaneous NCI-H2228 tumor xenografts. ASP3026, (daily oral dosing for 14 days) induced dose dependent anti-tumor effects starting at 1 mg/kg with marked regression at 10, 30 and 100 mg/kg. Body weights were unaffected. Crizotinib, (twice daily oral dosing) was less potent, with growth inhibition at 10 mg/kg, and tumor regression at 30 mg/kg. A dose of 100 mg/kg of crizotinib was poorly tolerated. Resistance mutations in ALK kinase domain against crizotinib were reported following sequence analysis of tumor cells derived from crizotinib-relapsed patients. The position of the mutation is the so-called gatekeeper mutation and is thought to be one of the causes of crizotinib relapse. In an EML4-ALK driven tumor model with gatekeeper mutation, ASP3026 showed potent anti-tumor effects while crizotinib was ineffective even at 100 mg/gk qd. In summary, ASP3026 has a broad safety margin and inhibitory activity at the gatekeeper mutation. Therefore, ASP3026 may still effective in EML4-ALK fusion positive NSCLC patients, that have relapsed to crizotinib. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2011 Nov 12-16; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2011;10(11 Suppl):Abstract nr A227.